Voronezh State Symphony Orchestra

The Orchestra was founded in 1925 by the city of Voronezh Council.

This orchestra was created by Dmitri Akhsharumov who was followed by G. Stolyarov, K. Saradzhev, A. Pavlov-Arbenin, A. Dementiev, B. Berman, G. Karapetian, Y. Nikolaevsky.

Under the batons of many outstanding conductors such as A. Gauk, K. Ivanov, E. Svetlanov,V. Ferrero, G. Sebastian, P. Breisakh, K. Eliasberg, B. Khaikin, K. Kondrashin, E. Khachaturian, E. Grikurov, N. Yarvi, A. Dmitriev, J. Domarkas, E. Fayer, Y. Temirkanov, the orchestra became the essential part of the cultural life of the city of Voronezh.

The orchestra was an active propagandist of the classical and modern symphony and opera repertoire, and it was the first to perform the world premiere of the Hamlet Suite and the Golden Age Suite of Dmitri Shostakovich; on 20 December 1933, D. Shostakovich performed his first piano concerto. The orchestra often collaborates with Voronezh choirs in performing of oratorial genre. It also performed monographical concerts for such composers as T. Khrennikov, A. Schnitke, R. Schedrin, E. Svetlanov, A. Eshpai, M. Nosyrev, G. Stavonin, M. Zaitchikov, O. Taktakishvili, Yu. Butsko, E. Denisov, E. Suchon, F. Hummel and others.

In 1972 Valdimir Verbitsky has been appointed Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the orchestra. He brought the quality of Leningrad musical traditions into both technical proficiency and orchetra repertoire: music of Bartok, Ligeti, Schoenberg, Berg, Messiaen began been played side by side classical Brahms, Beethoven, Glinka, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov.

Each year VSSO gives numerous concerts in its subscription and educational series. Besides these , there are many special concerts for children, often presenting the most gifted students of Voronezh music schools and institutes.

The VSSO also regularly performs in Moscow and St.Petersburg, participates in the TCHAIKOVSKY FESTIVAL in Izhevsk, the city where Tchaikovsky was born, RACHMANINOV FESTIVAL in the city of Tambov, MOSCOW AUTUMN FESTIVAL, CHRISTMAS MUSICAL MEETINGS IN PALMIRA OF THE NORTH FESTIVAL in St.Petersburg and many others. Most concerts of VSSO were recorded in Voronezh, St.Petersburg, Moscow. The orchestra recently toured Czechoslovakia, Germany, Spain, China, France.

The orchestra has been quite busy in the recording studio with the completion of the CDs, among them Four Seasons by Vivaldi, Music of Ballet "Song of Triumphant Love" by M. Nosyrev, Mahler Symphony No.4.

In the year 2002 the Voronezh orchestra became the Winner of the Moscow Radio "Orphej" All-Russia Symphony Orchetsras Competition. As the Winner, VSSO gave a special concert at the Great Hall of the Moscow Concervatoire performing the Violin Concerto by Glazunov (soloist D.Berlinsky, USA) and Tchaikovsky "Manfred" symphony. There was a standing ovation after the symphony.

Vladimir Verbitsky has been the VSSO Chief Conductor and Music Director since 1972.

Many outstanding soloists performed with the orchestra under the baton of Vladimir Verbitsky; among them Emil Gilels, L. Vlasenko, O. Kagan, N. Gutman, G. Kremer, V. Tretyakov, V. Spivakov, N. Petrov, I. Oistrakh, T. Alikhanov, Y. Bashmet, I. Zhukov, E. Virsaladze, M. Pletnev, M. Vengerov, Elena Gilels, Borodin Quartet. Such an unique collaboration of the orchestra and its internationally acclaimed Chief Conductor for more than 30 years improved the VSSO enormously. For truly great music making the orchestra received the title of Academic Orchestra and Vladimir Verbitsky was awarded the honorable title People's Artist of Russia.

Igor Verbitsky has been Associated Conductor since1992. He has already conducted many concerts with the orchestra and soloists from Russia, Germany and USA; in 1995 he toured Germany with the VSSO, where they performed in Berlin and Dresden with great success.

He combine his fruitful collaboration with the orchestra with his intensive schedule of performances at the St.Petersburg Musical Comedy Theatre.